Machine for applying gaskets to glass jars or like articles



May 9, 1950 'w. c. WEBER MACHINE FOR APPLYING GASKETS T0 GLASS JARS 0R LIKE ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1944 3 n Wm .7 7 m Z Z @w y y 1950 w. c. WEBER 2,507,072

MACHINE FOR APPLYING GASKETS T0 y GLASS JARS OR LIKE ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1944 Win93;

May 9, 1950 Filed May 27, 1944 W. C. WEBER MACHINE FOR APPLYING GASKETS T0 GLASS JARS OR LIKE ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 9, 1950 w WEBER 2,507,072

MACHINE APPLYING GASKETS GLASS S 0R LIKE ARTICLE Filed May 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 9, 1950 MACHINE FOR APPLYING GASKETS TO GLASS JARS OR LIKE ARTICLES Walter G. Weber, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford, 001111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1944, Serial No. 537,714

2 Claims. (01. 29235) This invention relates to improvements in the art of sealing packing containers, such as glass jars, involving the use of sealing gaskets which are placed on the upper end or finish portions of the containers before caps are applied thereto.

It has been usual prior to the invention, so far as I am informed, to place such gaskets on the containers by hand. An object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will do this automatically.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gasket applying machine of the character described which will place gaskets on the containers rapidly and accurately and without injury to the gaskets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gasket applying machine of the character described which has facilities for simultaneously stretching and applying gaskets of elastic material onto containers which are slightly larger at their gasket receiving portions than the unstretched gaskets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which has means for moving containers, such as jars, in a series along a predetermined path and for taking individual gaskets successively from a supply adjacent to this path and applying each such gasket to its individual container during the travel of that container along said path.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character described of effective means for feeding a gasket from a supply stack to a position appropriate for application of that gasket to a container when that container has been moved along a given path to a predetermined position adjacent to the feeding means.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character described of means for moving containers, such as jars, in a series along a given path and gasket feeding means which will act automatically in response to the movement of each such container toward a given position to feed a gasket from an adjacent supply stack to position to be applied to that particular container.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character described of a gasket feeding mechanism which will be actuated to feed each of successive lowermost gaskets of a supply stack to a given position in synchronism with the movement of each of a series of containers, such as jars, along a given path toward that position and will retain the lowermost gas- 2 ket in place in the supply stack at all other times.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character described of a simple, reliable and effective means for act ing on each gasket that has been delivered to a particular position adjacent to the top of a moving packing container, such as a jar, to stretch and place that gasket in a stretched condition on the finish portion of that container.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a machine of the character described of a novel means for supporting a large number of gaskets in a vertical stack above and adjacent to a path along which containers are being moved and so that successive gaskets can be fed from the bottom of the stack at appropriate times and the supply of gaskets constituting said stack can be replenished from time to time without interrupting the operation of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will be pointed out or will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, mainly in elevation, of the gasket applying machine, portions thereof being broken away and other portions being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a resiliently enlarged fragmentary view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, showing details of the mechanism for feeding successive gaskets from the bottom of a supply stack to position to be applied to successive containers as they are moved below the feeding mechanism by a rotating carrier;

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the upper part of the machine at a level above the feeding mechanism and approximately along the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 1, a portion of the rotating carrier for the packing containers being broken away to disclose parts of the carrier driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section through the feeding mechanism as seen from a level below that of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view generally similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but at a Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. '7 but taken at an approximate right angle therewith;

Fig. 9 is a relatively enlarged horizontal section approximately along the line 9-9 or Fig. 1, showing details of a clamp for a vertical gasket guiding and supporting member;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section approximately. along the line Hliil of Fig. 1, showing details of a vertical movable double acting wedge rod for controlling the opening and closing movements of; a pair of clamps for supporting the vertical gasket supporting and guiding member-p Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, respectively; are-relatively enlarged horizontal sectional views, show-- ing the relative positions atdiiferenhstages rof the operation of wipers which are employed to stretch and apply a gasket onto. av moving jar, portions of these wipers which are shown'outof" their true positions being indicated by dotandidash lines; and

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the jar after, the gasket has been applied thereto.

Iihe framework structure of the: machine may; comprise abase from whicharises a supporting column 2-, substantially as shown in Fig. v1. The supporting column may be hollow, for the sake of lightness.

A carrier for the containers to which the gaskets are to beapplied may be of the rotating. table or turret type and may comprise ahub 3 rotatably mounted on the supporting column 2 at a convenient height above the base I. The hub 3, which also may be hollow, as shown, carries an annular flat plate or table member 4 which is detachably connected to the hub to rotate there- 55 with-about the axis-of the-supporting column. A stationary flat annular strip or flange 5 may encircle the table plate 4,-being supported-with its upper surface flush'with that of the table plate by any suitable means, as bybracket a1 ms 6 radiating from the lowerportionbf the supporting column 2. A spur gear I is conneetedto the lower portion of the hub 3, asby cap *bolts 8, Fig. 1, in co-axial relation-with the hub. The spur gear 5- is. in mesh with-a pinion Gout-he upper end of a driven vertical-shaft l0, Figs. 1 and ,3, which may be rotatably mounted in aligned bearings H and S2, respectively, on the outer ends of; vertically spacedbracket arms lt and M on the supporting column, Fig. l. The shaft leis rotated through a friction clutch i5 bythe upwardlyprojecting drive shaft I6 01 a conventional speed reduction unit H which has a driven connection, indicated generally at [8, with a motor IS on the base i, all as best seen in Fig. l. The rotary table, 3-4, thus may be rotated about theaxis of the supporting column 2 in the desired direction and at the speed desired.

The containers to which gaskets are to be applied, shown as glass jars 29, may rest upon the table member 5 so as to be moved along a given path by the rotating table. These containers may be spaced apart and retained in angularly spaced relation on the table member l adjacent to the outer periphery ofthe-latter by suitable container spacing and locating meanson thetable. Such means may comprise vertically spaced flat annular spider plates and 22, respectively, Figs. 1 and 2, which are carried by, the hub of the rotating carrier and which have regularly spaced peripheral recesses 23 and 24, respectively, intheir outer edge portions adapted toat least partially receive and embrace the containers 20. As shown, the spider plate 22 is the lowermost of the two spider plates. and. isdetachably secured to an external flange 25 on the lower portion of the hub 3, as by fastening devices such as the cap bolt 26, Fig. 1, so that each peripheral recess 24 in that spider plate is adapted to receive the body of a container 20 at a level below the transverse median line of the container when the latter is restingupon thetable plate 4.

The upper, spider plate 2| is detachably secured, as by fastening devices such as the cap bolts 21, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, on an external flange 28, Figs. 1 and 2, on the upper portion of the hub 3 of'therotating carrier so that each peripheral recess 23 in the spider plate 2| will receive an upper portion of the container standing upon the table-plated. As .best seen in Fig. 2, the periphera'l-recess 23sreceives the relatively reduced upper end or finish portion of the container, above the shoulder"2'9 thereon. Each recess 23 may be enlarged somewhat at its lower portion, as at 230., Fig. 1, to fit over the shoulder 29, Fig. 2, of the container... The narrower upper portion of the recess 23 may receive .the external flange orbead 30 onrthefinish portion of the container. The container has anannular. gasket receiving surface 32 at the extremeupper end of its finish and this protrudes fromthe peripheral recess in the topspiderplateill abovethe level of the latter, asshown in Fig. 2,,for. apurpose which willhereinafter. beexplained. The particular level at which the upper spider plate will be supported and the height thereof above the containersupporting table plate 4 of therotating, carrier may be adjusted within limits by. interposing annular shimrings between the flange ZBandthe superimposed upper spider plate, one such shim ring beingshown at. 33 in. Fig. 2. The upper spider plate. thus maybe positioned at the proper level to engage at itsperipherally recessed portions with. the upper end or finish portions of the containers resting upon the. table plate 4- at the level on-the latter. desired and sothat the portions of such containers onto which gaskets are to be placed-will..project.suitably above the level of the spider platen Also, spider. plates having peripheral'recesses of different sizes and shapes may be used selectively according to the sizes and shapes of the containersto which gaskets. are to be applied.

A gasket suitable for application to each ofthe containers 20 is designated 34 in the drawings andis a ring made of rubber or other suitable material. This gasket, before being applied, may have an inner diameter slightly less than the diameter of the annular surface32 of the.con.- tainer onto which the gasket is to be placed. Such a gasket may be made of a material'having good elasticity, although materials which lackthe elasticity and recovery characteristics of natural rubber may be used.

The invention provides means for. supporting a stack of the gaskets 34 above the rotating car. rier' (see Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7), together with means for feeding each of successive lowermost gaskets of the stack downwardly (see Fig. 2) to a position at which each gasket thus fed will partially overlie the top of the approaching container 23, as shown for the gasket 34 in thelower portion-of Fig. 4. Oniurtner movement of this container, caused by the rotation ofthe carrier clockwise as shown by the arrow in-Fig. 4, the gasket will be stretched and applied to the upwardly projecting finish portion of the container. The manner in which this is accomplished and the means for doing it will hereinafter be particularly described.

The upper portionof the supporting column 2,

above the rotating carrier for the containers, carries vertically spaced laterally projecting upper and lower brackets 35 and 36, respectively, Fig. 1. These have vertically aligned sleeve portions 35a and 36a, respectively, at their outer ends for the reception of the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of a secondary vertical supportin member 31. This also may be tubular, as shown. A collar 38 may be pinned, as at 39, onto the tubular supporting member 31, to rest upon the sleeve portion 36a of the lower bracket 36 and thus to prevent relative vertical movement between the vertical memher 3'! and the brackets 35, 3B. These brackets may be fastened to the main supporting column 2 by suitable fastening devices, such as the clamps 35b and 3%, respectively, Fig. 1, which may be loosened to permit angular adjustment or positioning of the brackets and the parts carried thereby around the axis of the vertical column 2 and then tightened to maintain the adjustment that has been made.

The vertical supporting member 3'. carries a pair of vertically spaced clamping devices 4%} and 4|, respectively, for supporting a vertical guide rod 42 for a supply stack of the gaskets 34. The rod 42 may be hollow, as shown. These clamping devices are alike so that the following description of the upper clampin device 4! will suflice also as a description of the lower clamp- :3.

ing device 40, like parts being designated by the same reference characters.

The clamping device 4|, Figs. 1 and 9, comprises a pair of levers 43 and 44, respectively. which are pivoted intermediate their ends on the vertical supporting member 31, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The levers 43 and 44 are provided at their working ends with cooperative clamping members or jaws 43a and 44a, Fig. 9, adapted jointly to encircle and embrace the member 42 adjacent to but below the upper end of the latter. The jaw members 43a and 44a may be provided with inwardly extending aligned detents or projections 45 adapted, when the jaws are closed, to project through openings 46 in the wall of the hollow member 42 to the interior of the latter, as shown in Fig. 9. The opposite or actuating arms of the levers 43 and 44 are connected at their extremities by a tension spring 41 which tends to swing the levers 43 and as about the axis of their pivotal support so as to maintain the jaws of the clamping device 4! spread apart or in openpositions.

Opening and closing of the jaws of the two camping devices 49 and 4! are controlled by a vertically movable double action vertical wedge rod 48 which depends between rollers 49 on the rearwardfactuating arms of the levers of the clamping devices, as best seen in Fig. 10. The wedge rod 48 has its main or body portion sufiiciently wide to hold the rearward, actuating arms of the levers of either or both of the clamping devices apart so as to retain the jaws of one or the other or both of the clamping devices closed upon the gasket supporting and guiding member 42, according to the vertical position of the rod 48 along its path of vertical movement. The wedge rod tapers, as at 43a, adiacent to each of its opposite ends, so that its extreme end por tions, indicated at 4%, are sufliciently narrow to permit opening of the jaws of either clamping device when the rollers of that device are contact with a narrow end portion of the wedge rod. The wedge rod is guided so as to move only in a predetermined vertical path by the guidingsleeves 50 and 5| which respectively are provided at the outer ends of vertically spaced bracket arms 52 and 53, respectively, on the upright supporting member 3'1. The wedge rod carries an upper stop pin 54 and a lower stop pin 55. When the wedge rod is at the upper limit of its possible vertical movement, the stop pin 54 will be located against the guiding sleeve 5| and the pin 55 will be above the lower guiding sleeve 58. At this time, the rollers on the actuating arms of the levers of the lower clamp 49 will be spaced apart by the narrow lower end portion of the wedge rod and the lower clamp will be open. The upper clamp, 4!, will be closed as the rollers on the actuating arms of the levers of that clamp will be spaced apart by the wider body portion of the wedge rod. The wedge rod may be moved downward from this position, which is as shown in Fig. 10, until the stop pin 55 strikes the top of the guiding sleeve 53. Before this happens, however, the rollers on the lower clamping device will ride up the tapered portion 48a near the lower end of the Wedge rod onto the wider body portion thereof to close the lower clamping device while the upper clamping device is still closed. In other words, the vertical distance between the rollers of the two clamping devices is slightly less than the length of the body portion of the wedge rod and the path of vertical movements of the wedge rod is so located and of such length that the wedge rod may be lowered or raised to effect closing of both clamping devices and then further, if desired, to cause opening of one of the clamping devices while the other is kept closed. Mechanism for raising and lowering the wedge rod may comprise a lever 56 which is pivoted intermediate its length, as at 51, Figs. 1 and 10, on the sleeve portion 35a of the bracket 35. This lever is connected pivotally at one end with a link 58 which is in turn pivotally connected with the upper end of the wedge rod. A push and pull wire 59, Fig. 1, or other handle-may be connected to the free end of the lever 55 for convenient manual operation of the latter.

The upper end portion of the hollow rod 42 may be tapered, as indicated at 42a, to facilitate loading of gaskets 34 onto it. For the gasket loading operation, the upper clamping device 4! may be opened while the lower clamping device 44 is closed to support the hollow rod 42. Gaskets 34 may then be stacked onto the rod 42 against the closed jaws of the lower clamping device until the stack reaches nearly to the level of the upper clamping device. The upper clamping device may then be closed to take over the support of the rod 42 and the lower clamping device opened to permit the gaskets to slide down on the member 42 to the lower end of the latter. It will be understood that the gasket feeding means, presently to be described, for feeding gaskets from the lower end of the stack will retain the lowermost gasket of the stack against falling from the lower end of the rod 42 until it is desired to feed such gasket downward. Gaskets may be placed on the member 2 to provide a supply stack sufficiently high to extend thereon above the lower clamping device 40 to or nearly to the level of the upper clamping device 4! More gaskets can be added during operation of the machine to maintain an adequate supply of gaskets on the rod. 52 at all times.

The supporting structure of the gasket feeding mechanism comprises a bracket 59, Figs. 3 to 6,

7 inclusive, fastened, as by cap screws 6| onto the substantially flat. outer; end portion 62 of a bracket arm G3;which is secured by a clamping device o iyF-igs. l', and 2:to.5, inclusive, onto the. tubular main supporting column 2. The bracket iiflcarries a pairnof spaced parallel short vertical 5 shaftsjE, Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Pivotallymounted cn..the.1ower portions of these shaftsfiB are the nubsfifi, Figs. 2 and fi, ofleverstl, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which have theirouter free endportions disposed. at. oppositesides of the bottom of the supplystackof gaskets 34.1 Theseareprovided' with cooperative laterally extendingsupporting fingers 6B,.Figs..2 and. 4, adapted to. partially underlie and to supportthe lowermost gasket. of. the stackwhen the. pivotedv levers .51 are at the limits of their, swinging movements about their pivotal axes toward each other or in what may be. termed. their closed positions. A coil spring,.69, bestseen in Figs. 2 and 4,. connects theleversfiiand tends to maintain them closed.

The-lever hubs. 68. have short enmeshed lateral gear segments 16, Figs. 2 and 4,. forcausingthe leverarms to swing. in unison. but in oppositev directions when one oithem is actuated. The hub of the 0uter-of..these,tv.ro levers is provided 35 with a ,short outwardly. extending actuating. lug H, Fig. .2, connected .byapin-TZ. Figs. 4 and 6,. rigidlyto-one end of a trip arm 13,.FigsL2, 4.and 6. The trip arm carries a holder-l4, which is ad-. justablealong thelengththereoi, for aroller 15,. which is adapted to bearagainstthe side of each container-fiflon the rotating carrier of the ma chine,. as best seen .in Fig. 2, whenthat container'has been brought by the rotation of the carriertoa position adjacent to but short oi. axial-alignment with the stack of gaskets 34.

Theoutwardswinging movement of the trip arm -13 by the contact ofthe oncoming container.- 20 with'the'roller i5-0fthetrip: device will cause opening of the levers -61 to release the lowermost 4Q gasket 34 of the stack. Thisgasket then will fall onto the upper spider plate of the rotating carrier so as to partially overlie'the top of=the container which has actuated the trip mechanism, as shown for the gasket Sl'at the-lower-por-tionof Fig. 4.. The closing movements-ofthe. levers 61 are limited by the Contact of an adjustable stop screw. iii-with the side of one of the short gearsectors'lfl, the-stop-screw being carried by a.

suitable-portion of the bracket Git-as shown in. 50..

Fig-.4.

The gasket feeding-:mechanism also comprises: means for engaging the second gasket from the. bottom to prevent down-wardfeeding of more than the-lowermost gasket when the gasket sup- 65, portingfingers 68'. have been withdrawn from their-supporting positions by the opening of the levers 6?. Such means comprises apair-of levers I'IgFigs. 1, 2 and-5, having hub portions 18, Figs. ZrandS, mounted on higher'portionsof the aforesaid shortvertical shafts- 65. and connected to turn in unison in oppositeqdirections-about their: respective pivotal axes by short laterally extending enmeshed gear segments 19.- The outer, free endportions of the levers i7 carrygrippers 80 at their inner sides, thesegrippers including: pointed projections .81 suitablylocated to press. against opposite sidesof. the second gasket'from the-bottom of the stack so asfirmly to retain it in place-on the vertical guide =rod when the 70 levers]? are closed; A coil spring 82, best seen in Fig. 5, connects the levers TI and tendsto maintain-them in their closed. positions. The extentfof opening and closing movements.-of:the; leversa'l'l, thetimes of such. opening movements:

and the duration oi the intervening periods during; which they remain-closed are controlled'by the coaction ofa cam follower 83, on'the outerend of a rocker arm 84 on-the hub of the inner ofthe two levers 71," with a cam 85 which rotates .with the rotary carrier of the machine".- This operating mechanism is best'seen-in-Figsrii: and,5. The cam ,85jis mounted upon the hub 3 of therotary carrier so as to be rotated by'the latter and sothat angular adjustment of the cam in relation to the carrier can be effected within: limits to adjust the positions ofyperiph'eral pro-- jectionsfifion the cam relative to the angularly spacedcontainer positioning pockets which-areprovidedbythe peripheral recesses in the spider plates of the rotating, carrier, there being a paripheral .projcctionts on thecam for each such pocket. To this .end, the cam ,85 may be'provided with arcuateslots 8'l'through which exttendthe shanks of cap bolts et by which'thecam is-secured to the hub of therotating carrier.- Each of the cam projections, 85 actuates therocker arm 84 to open the levers 1'! to disengage the interposed gasket 3d. 7 By the structural and operating arrangement just described, the levers T! will be openedhonly whenthe lower supporting fingers 58,.on the leversfilare closed 'so as to. permit the next gasket inline to move slightly downward onto thesupportingflngers 68 after. the preceding lowermost gasket has been fed downward from the bottom of;the stack.

The gasket feeding mechanism also includes means for. gripping. one or more of the. gaskets of the stack a short distance. above the lower end of .such stack so. as ,to lessen, the weight on; the lowermost gasket supportingfingers 68 when. the levers 71 :are. open and alsov to. lessen the. Weight on the grippers 'for thesecond gasket from; thabottom of the stackwhen all the gasket sup porting andgripping.lnstrumentallties are closed-. This weight relieving means comprises ahpair of levers 89, Figs. l, 2 and 3, haying hub-portions.- iiilpivotallymounted on the upperportionsof, the-aforesaid short vertical shafts 65.. The outer, free end portions .of..these leyers89 are adapted. to. grip between them. one or moreof, the gaskets of. the stack at ashort distance above the intermediate levers 11 when ;tl1e.levers.89 areclosed A-coil spring =9! connects thedevers .89 and tends. to keep them "closed.

The-levers 89 may beppenedand closed in. unison with the lower levers 67,- whichcarry the supporting fingers 6B for the. lowermost gasket of the stack. Thismay beaccomplished byproviding the levers 89 with depending-rigid arms. 92, the lower portions ofwvhich carry adjustable contact pieces 93, shown asbolts-bearing.-against theouter sides of'the levers 51 and best-see in- Fig. 2. Thus, when the levers E! are :opened by the container actuated trip-mechanism previously. described,the.levers 89-alsowillbe opened.. When. the-levers 5'! are closed by their-connecting spring. 59, the connecting spring-3| ofthe upperlevers; 89- will simultaneously :close the. upper levers.

An arcuate-guard bar may be supported on themarginal plate Figs..2 and 6-, asbybrackets 95, Fig. 6, for-retaining the containers ZJ-intheir, pockets on the rotating carrier during; the periodof their tr: vel in which each such container will. act upon the roller 75 ofthe trip-off device for thegasket feeding mechanism.

The gasket-applyingmechanism may comprise. a supporting. yoke of substantially C-shap in plan, asibestseen inFigs. 3..and-.4. This yoke. may be adjusta-bly mounted on thebracket 60, as,

by cap bolts 97 having their shanks extending downwardly through slots 98 in the web of the yoke into the underlying bracket so that the arms of the yoke extend toward but at opposite sides of the lower portion of the stack of gaskets 34. Horizontally swingable levers 90 are pivoted adjacent to their rearward ends, as at I80, to the yoke arms to extend past the lower portion of the stack of gaskets at opposite sides thereof. These levers have short rearward arms or tail pieces iilI at the inner sides of the arms of the yoke 96 for contact with adjustable stops IE2, shown as threaded studs or bolts carried by the arms of the yoke, to limit the extent of swinging movements of the levers 9t toward each other. tension coil spring I03 connects the levers 99 so as to tend to swing them toward each other until the tail pieces of the levers strike the adjustable stops E02.

The free end portions of the levers 99 carry wipers I65 which are adapted to cooperate with each other and with the projecting upper end portion of a moving container 23 on the rotating carrier to place an interposed gasket 34 on the projecting upper end portion of the container during the movement oi the container between these wipers. Each wiper I 05. may comprise a gasket top surface wiping member 055, of platelike form, and a gasket side surface wipingmember I05, of circular configuration in cross section. The gasket side surface wiping member I may have an attaching stem or shank, indicated at I01 in Figs. '7 and 8, extending through a suitable hole I08 in the gasket top surface wiping plate I05 and a suitably apertured outer end portion 99a. of the supporting lever 99 into threaded engagement with a nut ltd which may be tightened to fasten the lever 99, the gasket top surface wiping plate I05 and the gasket side surface wiping member I06 rigidly together. In this construction, the gasket side surface wiping member I66 is rigid with the top surface wiping plat and with the supporting lever but obviously the construction may be modified in any suitable known way to permit rotation of the side surface wiping member I05 about its vertical axis, as in the manner of a roller, if this should be desired.

When the levers d9 are in their inwardly swung or closed positions, the adjacent side edges of the gasket to surface wipin plates may be close together, or even in contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 8. The levers d9 are of suitable length and shape-the outer end portions thereof being turned downwardly and forwardly in the examples shown-to position the wipers close to the upper spider plate 2! of the rotating carrier and so that the line of travel of the projecting upper end portion of each of the containers on the rotating carrier will pass midway between the gasket side surface wiping members I06 and directly beneath the top surface wiping members I05 of the wipers. The adjustable connection of the yoke 96 with its supporting bracket permits some adjustment of the positions of the wipers to assure accurate pro-setting thereof. The gasket top surface wiping plates may be beveled at their undersurfaces from the edges thereof which are turned toward the gasket feeding mechanism, as indicated at I05a in Fig. 7.

When the wipers I04 are in their closed positions, as just described, the distance between the gasket side surface wiping members I06 is less than the diameter of the projecting upper end portion 32 of the container onto which a gasket M is to be placed. The gasket receiving surface 10 of this particular container is downwardly tapering, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the side wiping member I06 therefore may be upwardly tapering to match.

The operation of applying a gasket to the gasket receiving surface of a container by the mechanism just described will be readily understood. The positions at a number of diiferent stages of such operation of the elements involved are shown in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive. 4 In these views, the wiping plate members I05 are indicated by dotand-dash lines because, as shown by Figs. '7 and 8, for example, they actually are located above the plane at which each of Figs. 11 to 14, inclu: sive, is taken.

Rotation of the carrier will move each container thereon to which a gasket is to be applied toward :the closed wipers. :The gasket which par tially overlies the projectin upper end of the container will be held in position to be hooked over the leading edge of such upper end portion of the container as thelatter is moved by the carrier beneath the top surface wiping plates I05 along a path extending between the side surface wiping members I06, substantially as shown in Fig. 11. The continued movement of the comtainer relative to the gasket and to the wipers will cause the gasket to be laid partially around the projecting upper end portion 32 of the con;- tainer, substantially as shown --in Fig. 12, by the time the wipers start to moveapart. It will be noted that the top wiping plates slide across the upper edge of the container and thus hold the gasket against riding up over the edge of the container. As the movement of the container continues, the wipers will be spread apart, as to and past the positions shown in Fig. 13. Subsequent-; ly, the wipers will move toward each other as the container passes through the space between them, as to and past the position shown in Fig. 4. The gasket thus will be laid over the upper end portion of the container, being stretched if re quired in order to fit onto the container. The applied position of the gasket on the upper end portion of the container is shown in Fig. 15.

The machine includes means for applying a lifting force to the container while the gasket is being applied thereto. This may be desirable to assure the proper relationship between the upper edge portion of the container and the gasket top surface wiping plates and also to aid in holding the container steady as it .moves between and spreads the wipers. As shown, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8, the table plate 4 of the rotary carrieris provided with an opening II 0 in each portion thereof on which a container 20 will stand. This opening I I0 is adapted toaccommodate the head II I of a vertically movable lifter, the shank of which, designated II2, may depend through a suitably apertured guide block II3 that is at,- tached to the bottom of the table plate 4. The lifter shank II2 has a rounded bottom portion IIZa projecting below the block IIB. When the lifter is at the limit of its downward movement, the upper surface of its head may :be flush with the upper surface of the table plate so that the container rests upon both the head of the lifter and the surrounding portion of the table plate. However, just beforethe container to which a gasket is to be applied arrives at the gasket applying station, the rotation of the carrier will move the lifter for that particular container upon a fiat spring bar II4, which is anchored at one end in a clamp II5 on the bracket arm 6, Figs. 2 and 6. This spring bar I I4 is pressed upwardly adjacent toits free:end byzakcoil springqI i 6. The spring 'l ls-iis interposedcbetween the spring bar H4 and a spring supporting and diension7adjusting device which may-"compriseza fiat disk ii on theupper endaofiathreadedstud 1H 8 carried by a projecting armsl [.9 lion-the :clamping device 1.15. The-containenmay bezraised slightly above thatableplatezl astoihe position shownin Figs. Hand- 8, for 1 example, by the section of its spring impelled "lifter "when :such container :is being movdialong the' portion cli-v its 'pathof movement at which a' gasket is to be applied thereto. :To limit the upward rmovement ofthe container by the lifter, stop pins, indicated at. l20, Figs. 3,-4 :and 8,may -be provided in the upper spiderplate 2-I= of the conveyor adjacent" lac-the edge of the narrower portion ot each peripheral recess .23 therein and at:.-spaced apartip'olnts' around such recess *s as -toengage with the upwardly: facing shoulderof the container ZO when-the latter has *beeriiralsed to the extent desired. :Obviously, the

container might berraised against theiedge of theperipheral recessin the upper: spider plate instead of againststop pins located adjacent to this edge. The stop pins are considered prefer" 'A' second or 'auxiliary 'arcuately curved guard liar I2 I may be "mountei sas by brackets I22 on the marginal strlp -5;E igs. 1; 4, and 6; in' a'po'sition atthe outer edge of-the "rotating' carrier to prevent outward movement-of each container from its peripl' er'al pocket in the-rotating 'carrier during-the period-oi travel or the container in which a gasket is applied thereto. *The guard bar I2 I may be "located an a higher level on" the body of the container than the-guard bar fl.

A machine of'the invention may be used-to apply gaskets to the upper end portions ofglass jars or-to upwardly projecting annular walls or other similar articles; 4 The -'articles "to Which the gaskets are tobe applied-may be loaded into -'the-pockets of therotating"carrier"by *hand or by' theuse of any suitableknown mechanism for accomplishing this result. Similarly, thearticles, after the gaskets havebeed-applied thereto, may be removed-from theirotating carrier' by hand pr byany suitableknown unloading device. 'The carrier *and the-means -for positioning 'thereon the a'rticles tc which gaskets are tobe applied may vary"- widelyi-n construction and mode of 'w i-pingmember depending therefrom; means for moving the upper 'end portion'of a hollow article,

"such as -a Jar}. havirig an anniflargasket hooked over :theleading edge thereof, horizontally between the depending side surface wiping members and directly beneath the top surf-ace wiping members, and means yieldingly resisting-opening movements of said wipers by'said :upper end portion of the hollow article and tending to maintain the wipers in closed positions in which their depending side surface wiping members are spaced aparta distance less than the diameter of the upper end portion of said hollow article, substantially as and for the purpose described.

-2. A machine for applying annular gaskets to the upper end portions of shouldered articles, such asjars, comprising a carrier mounted to rotate about a-vertical axis, said carrier comprising-a substantially fiat t'able on which such articles may standfin upright position, said carrier including a substantially horizontal spider plate located bove said table and having regularly spaced open recesses in its peripheral edge portion for thereception of the respective articles standing on said table at levelsabove their shouldered portions'and below their extreme upper end portions which project above the spider plate, means for rotating said carrier abcutits vertical axis, means for feeding annular gaskets forthe articles from an overhead supply onto the carrier so that each gasket thus fed rests partially on said spider plate and partially on the top ,of the rearwardly disposed adjacent article on the carrier when that article is at'a predetermined point around the-axis of rotation of the carrier, gasket wiping means located'above said'carrier in advance of said predetermined further movement of that article by the rotation of the carrier to dispose the gasket in position to encircle the upper end portion of said article, said carrier including vertically movable lifter headsbeneath the articles standing on the carrier tab1e,said lifter heads having shanks depending slidably through openings in the table belowthe latter, a spring-raised bar located beneath a portion of the rotating table to bias each shank and its lifter head upwardly to raise the superposedarticle above the table during the portion of the cycle of rotation of the carrier in which a gasket is applied to the upper end portion of that article, and stop means carried by said spider plate for engaging with the shouldered portion of the raised-article to limit the upward movement of the latter relative to the carrier. WAL'IERC. WEBER.

5 REFERENCES CITED 4 "The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PA-TENTS 

